Parenting Toddlers (1-3) Support Group

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MY 20mth OLD SCREAMS UNTIL SHES SICK AT BEDTIME

Thumpa
Thumpa

hi,


wondering if anyone can help with experience or advice with my almost two year old little girl. She has just recently started absolutely screaming the house down at bedtime (wish she NEVER did before- was always a great sleeper and rolled over and closed her eyes with her bottle of milk etc) . She gets herself so worked up that she makes herself throw up and everything! She isn't afraid of anything- we have tried the nice approach and we have now gotten to the point where we strip her of everything one by one thing hoping she will learn. No use. So so stubborn and she does not give up.


ive heard some people say it's to do with separation anxiety etc so I've tried cuddling and reassuring etc but it makes no difference... please please help.

overwhelmedmommy
overwhelmedmommy
I used to have this problem with my youngest. What has helped is a very strict bedtime routine. Dirrectly after dinner is quiet playtime, six thirty is bathtime then lotion, pjs, tooth brushing, potty (if potty training). After that she gets to pick between one of two outfits for tomorrow morning and gets to pick one of the two stories we read at bedtime. Bedtime is strictly seven thirty. If she gets up out of bed, i bring her right back and i ignore her screams. I know that seems harsh but she is doing it for attention and if you teach her she will only get attention for doing the right things then she will eventually learn.
it took about three weeks for it to sink in so its nowhere near an overnight solution. oh, and we dont let her go to sleep with anything to drink either. that tends to make her stay up and can make her get cavities.
tbbrandyn
tbbrandyn
I have had a little bit of the same thing happen with my youngest two children. My daughter who is almost 3, shared a room with me up to a week ago. When she was younger she would only go to sleep if she was all wrapped up, swaddled. Then I would have to hold her till she was asleep and some times that would take up to 2 hours and then I was able to lay her down in the bed. That went on till she was around 2. Then I started just laying her in the crib till she went to sleep. But I would have to sit in the room on my bed till she was asleep. If I left the room while she was awake she would scream till she was gagging. I keep a small fan on in the room and a radio going for background noise. If those aren't on she would wake up within an hour. Around Christmas I had to start using my tablet for my music for her to go to sleep without me in the room. Now that she in the room with her brother at night I still have to use the tablet but I don't have to sit in the room.
My 6 year old son when he was younger was having a hard time sleeping at night when he was younger. We tried everything. Now he has to have a toy, something like a few legos, a toy car or something while he is laying in his bed and he stays in his bed till he goes to sleep and only comes out when he has to go to the bathroom.
She could be going through separation anxiety. It will get better with time. Just take it one day at a time. You could maybe try bringing a chair in the room and sit across the room from her bed for a little while and then every few nights move the chair closer the to the door till its out of the room. Hope it helps.